Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away on April 20, 2025, at the age of 88, marking the end of a transformative 12-year papacy.
His final days were characterized by a fierce battle with severe illness, a testament to his resilience, and a quiet resolve to cement his legacy as a pontiff of inclusivity and reform.
Hospitalized since February 14, 2025, at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, Francis faced a complex respiratory infection that evolved into double pneumonia, compounded by early kidney failure. Despite his frailty, he remained engaged with his duties, embodying the humility and openness that defined his tenure.
Francis’s health had been a concern for years. Having lost part of a lung in his youth, he battled chronic respiratory issues, sciatica, and knee problems that confined him to a wheelchair.
His hospitalization in February began with what seemed like bronchitis but quickly escalated. By late February, the Vatican reported a “complex clinical picture,” with Francis experiencing intense pain and respiratory crises.
On February 28, his oxygen saturation dropped to a critical 78, and he reportedly told his doctor, “It’s terrible,” acknowledging the possibility of death. His medical team, led by Dr. Sergio Alfieri, considered halting aggressive treatment, but his nurse urged them to continue, a decision Alfieri later called “a miracle” when Francis stabilised.
Throughout his hospital stay, Francis remained remarkably active. He followed Vatican spiritual retreats via videoconference, appointed bishops, and maintained daily calls with priests in Gaza, demonstrating his commitment to global outreach.
On March 19, he celebrated Mass with priests, and the Vatican released a rare photograph of the ailing pontiff, a nod to his transparency about his health, unlike predecessors like John Paul II, whose Parkinson’s was concealed until after his death. Francis’s candour was evident in a 2021 interview with Dr. Nelson Castro, where he detailed his ailments, including a past lung surgery and psychiatric sessions during Argentina’s dictatorship.
As his condition fluctuated, Francis moved to protect his progressive legacy. He extended the term of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals, ensuring a trusted ally would oversee funeral rites and influence the conclave.
This move sidestepped a vote, signaling his intent to shape the Church’s future. His papacy, marked by calls for climate action, inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community, and abolition of the death penalty, faced resistance from conservative factions. Yet, even in his final weeks, he rebuked U.S. Vice President JD Vance over immigration policies, underscoring his moral clarity.
By early April, Francis’s condition worsened, notably his inability to walk or lift his arms, yet he visited Rome’s Regina Coeli Prison for a Holy Thursday service, a poignant act of service.
On April 20, he succumbed to his illness, leaving behind plans for burial at Santa Maria Maggiore, breaking with Vatican tradition. His death triggered global mourning, with Catholics and world leaders honoring a pope who, until his last breath, championed mercy and justice.
